James m



(No Model.)

J M. BASINGBR.

BUCKLE.

Patented Apr. 26, 1887.

N, PETERS, mwxmnhogmpher. wauingm. ux;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. BASINGER, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO VILLTAM L. WHITE, OF SAME PLACE.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361.980, dated April 26, 1887.

Application filed February 3, 1887. Serial No. 926,451. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it 71mg/ concern:

Bc it known that l, JAMES M. BAsINGER, of

the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trace Buckles, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of trace-buckles which are composed of a buckle-frame to which the hame-tug is attached and a tongue-plate formed separate from the bucklefranie and provided with a stub-tongue which engages with the trace, the tongueplate being held in place by the buckleframe.

The object of this invention is to produce a trace-buckle of this character which will be simple in construction and capable of easy adjustment on thc trace, and in which the tongue is relieved from the greater portion of the strain.

The invention consists of the improvements in the construction of the buckle which will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an edge elevation of my improved buckle. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof'. Fig. A 3 is a side elevation of the buckle. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the buckleframe. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tongue-plate.

Like letters of reference refer to likeparts in the several figures. y

A represents the hame-tug, and B the trace.

O represents the buckle-fra1ne,which is provided at its front end with a depressed crossbar, c, to which the haine-tug is attached. rlhe buckle-frame C is formed with a iiat slotted bed or bottom composed of two end plates, d d', and connecting-bars cl2.

e represents a raised cross-bar, arranged at the front end ofthe buckle-frame, and connected with the end plate, d, by curved side bars, e'. The cross-bar e is arranged above the depressed cross-bar c, and forms, with the end plate, d, and connecting side bars, e', aloop, e2.

f represents a raised cross-bar arranged at the rear end of the buckle-frame,and connected with the end plate, d', by curved side bars, f to form a loop, fl. The cross-bars e and f 5c bear against the outer side of the trace when the latter is inserted th rough theloops e2 and f 2.

g represents the usual side loops formed on the buckleframe C for attachingthe pad-strap and girth thereto, and g represents a loop formed on the rear cross bar, f, to which the side strap is attached.

H represents the tongue-plate, which rests upon the outer side of the trace between the two crossbars c andf of the buckle-fra1ne,and which is provided on its -inner side with a 6o downwardly-projecting stub-tongue, h, which passes through the trace. rlhe tongue-plate H is provided in front of the tongue with a depressed crossbar, h', and downwardlycurved side bars, h2, forming a loop, h3, through which the trace passes. The tongue-plate H is provided at its rear end with a rearwardly-projecting lip or extension, j, which engages un der the rear cross-bar, f, of the bucklefrarne when the tongue is engaged with the trace, and 7o protects the trace from the wear which would result from the crossbar f rubbing against the trace.

k represents a shoulder or projection formed on the outer side of the tongue-plate, in front of the extension or lip j and in rear of the tongue, and adapted to engage against the front side of the rear cross-bar, f, so that the cross-bar f forms a support for the tongueplate, whereby the tongue is relieved from the 8o strain which is applied to it when the trace is taut. The end of the tongue engages against the front side of the end plate, d', of the buclrle-franie when the shoulder k is in contact with the cross-bar f, as represented in Fig.2,so that the tongue is relieved from strain on both sides of the trace. The end plate, d,is

. provided in its front side with a notch or recess, Z, which forms a seat for the end of the tongue. The shoulder k is grooved out on its 9o under side, as shown at 7c in Figs. 2 and 5, whereby the tongueplate can be readily seized and swung away from the trace when it is desired to lengthen or shorten the trace. Upon sliding the trace forwardly until the lip or extension j of the tongue-plate is released from the cross-bar f of the buckleframe,the tongueplate can be readily raised to disengage the tongue from the trace by inserting the thumb or nger nail in the undercut k' of the shoulder ICO lr. Vhen the tongue'has been disengaged frointhe trace, the tongueplate H is free to swing outwardly from the trace on its crossbar h', which is coniined between the inner side ofthe trace and the bars d2 of the buckleframe. The cross-bar h' of the tongue-plate being located on the outer side of the buckleframe, the inner side of the buckle-frame :is smooth and has no projecting parts which would be liable to rub against the horse. The raised cross-bar e at the front end of thebuckleframe holds the trace close to the haine-tug and relieves the ordinary leather loop eniployed for this purpose.

I elaini as my invention- 1. In a buckle, the combination, with the buckle-frame @,havin g a slotted bed and raised rear cross-bar, f, of a sliding tongue-plate provided with a loop through which the trace passes, said tongueplate engaging under the cross-bar f and resting against the outer side ofthe bed of the buckle-frame adjacent to the trace, substantially as set forth.

2. In a buckle, the combination, with the buckle-frame C, having a slotted bed, a raised rear cross-bar, f, a raised front cross-bar, e,

\ and a depressed front crossbar, c, of a sliding tongue-plate provided with a loop through which the trace passes, said tongue-plate en gaging under the cross-bar f and resting against the outer side of the bed of the buckle-frame adjacent to the trace, substantially as set forth.

3. In a buckle, the combination, Withthe buckle-fra1ne C, having a slotted bed, a depressed fronterossbar, c, to which the hametug is attached, and a raised rear oross-bar,f, of a tongue-plate, H, provided with a down- Wardly-projecting tongue, h, alip or extension, j, adapted to engage under the raised crossbarf, and a shoulder, k, engaging against the crossbarf, substantially as set forth.

4L. The combination,in a buckle, of abuckleframe, O, having a slotted bed, a depressed front cross-bar for attachment to the hametug, raised cross-bars ef, formed on opposite ends of the buckle-frame, a tongue-plate, H, formed separate from the buckle-frame and provided With a depressed loop, h3, a down- Wardly-projeoting tongue, 71 a lip or extension, 7', engaging under the rear cross-bar, f, and a shoulder, 7a, engaging against the cross-barf, substantially as set forth.

Vitness my hand this 27th day of January, 1887.

JAMES M. BASINGER. Vitnesses:

JN0. J. BoNNER, CARL F. GEYER. 

